'Tech Days' mixes music and math at Marston Elementary School

HAMPTON — Field Day is a rite-of-passage for fifth-grade Marston Elementary School students, a way to mark the end of the school year and prepare to move to Hampton Academy.

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By Lisa Tetrault-Zhe

seacoastonline.com

By Lisa Tetrault-Zhe

Posted Jun. 3, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Lisa Tetrault-Zhe

Posted Jun. 3, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

HAMPTON — Field Day is a rite-of-passage for fifth-grade Marston Elementary School students, a way to mark the end of the school year and prepare to move to Hampton Academy.

On Thursday evening, 125 fifth-grade students will pretend that field day is cancelled so they can take math tests instead. Fortunately, this isn't a reality, but the annual spring play — "Tech Days."

Under the direction of music teacher Gus Carlson, the play is a combination of music, dance and math.

"The premise is that the teachers trick them into doing math problems on field day," Carlson, who wrote the play, explained. "The students have to solve word problems in this giant super computer. At the end, someone spills a drink on it, and they have to use pencils to solve the word problems."

The spring play is an annual event for the fifth-grade class. Carlson, who won $25,000 in 2012 as a Milken Educator for furthering excellence in education, integrates other subjects with his music.

"I help out in the classrooms sometimes, and I noticed a focus on word problems," Carlson said. "I thought it would be fun for the students if the word problems came to life."

Every student is in the chorus, and they all had a chance to have a special role as well, according to Carlson. They can act, dance, sing a solo or work on props.

"I love the songs he comes up with," said fifth-grade student Chloe Sanders, who'll play the role of a teacher. "He also does a lot of hand motions that we perform. He changed the words to some really popular songs right now, like 'Happy' (Pharrell Williams) and 'Counting Stars' (OneRepublic).

Another student agreed, saying Carlson is one of her favorite teachers.

"He's great, he really understands kids," said fifth-grade student Hope Cooper, who'll play the role of one of the students in the play. "I remember he told us once that he eats an omelet every morning. He said if he makes it perfectly, he knows he's going to have a good day. The day he won the $25,000, he said he made a terrible omelet, so he thought it was going to be a really bad day."

For Carlson, working with his students is the best part of his job.

"I love seeing the kids having a great time singing," Carlson said. "When I hear that they've been singing my songs on the bus, that's amazing. I want the plays to be the highlight of fifth grade."

The performance will be held Thursday night at Marston at 7 p.m., following the Celebration of Learning from 6 to 7 p.m. (classrooms will be open for parents to view their students' work throughout the year).